By admin
Nov 17th 2010 @ 3:12PM Filed under: Cat Breed Issues

This longhaired cat, native to America and the state of Maine is one of the most popular cat breeds in the U.S. Male Maine Coons may weigh between 13 and 18 pounds and females may weigh between 8 and 12 pounds. The cats may stand between 10 and 16 inches tall at the shoulder.

Many breeders x-ray the hips of their breeding animals. Some people have also had cardiac testing done for their cats’ hearts due to the breed’s problem with feline hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). The results have been 94.3 percent normal according to data reported to the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals. Feline hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is the most common heart disease in cats. The disease is most often found in middle-aged and older cats, especially males. The disease is progressive. Maine Coons may be tested for a specific gene mutation that causes feline hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

Maine Coon Cats are also subject to spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). This is a genetic disease that may appear in kittens at the age of 3-4 months. It can result in muscle atrophy, muscle weakness and it may shorten the cat’s life. There is also a test to detect the genes that cause SMA.

Maine Coons may also contract polycystic kidney disease (PKD). This is a slow and progressive disease that leads to renal failure. It is incurable. PKD is a genetic disease so with careful screening and testing it is hoped that the disease may be prevented.